Yeah, I agree odds are that Kerridge, Lamb & Pickett will be there next year. Perhaps instead of "lineball" I should have said "on their last chance next year". Thomas is another in that category I suppose - I'm fairly confident he will get a new incentive based contract (1 year with an option?).

Simmo might go around again, or he might decide that it's better to get out a year too early than a year too late....

There will be a deal done. In is not in Carlton's interest to make this a career ending injury. We sent him back out there when his knee was already shot and it caused further injury.

Two more drafts left in this rebuild??

Not a lot of margin for error.

If we get the picks, trading and FA spot on. Realistically, probably 3 drafts to allow for a few misses.

Of the fabled 66 game rebuild, don't we only have this and next year's draft?

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Please.

A 66 game rebuild means 4 drafts and pushing for finals in 2019, making finals 2020. The time to make judgements on the whole rebuild is second half of 2019 with final decisions in 2020

If Casboult leaves, who plays second ruck? Kreuzer has shown through his entire career that he plays best when he plays 80% ruck time, so we can't play a second ruckman alongside him (e.g. Phillips). McKay you would imagine will become the forward/second ruckman, but he may be a couple of years from being able to do that week in, week out. There doesn't seem to be anyone else on the list who could play that role. I think the risk of losing Casboult is greater for his role as second ruck than it is as a forward.

Options for a forward/second ruck to bring in cheaply for short term, until McKay develops and He Who Shall Not Be Named comes on board (not arguing their merits, just who is around and might be gettable cheaply):

- Tippett
- Sam Reid (free agent)
- Pederson
- Could Goldstein play as a forward?

Anyone else?

Liam Jones plays second ruck.
Most teams are using a mid 190cm second ruck who plays mostly forward.
We use Jones to go with that player. Moving from defence to ruck.
Kreuzer is either off or forward.
Weitering or someone else depending on match ups goes back to cover Jones.
More flexibility, more run.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-07-27/kreuzer-poised-to-resign-with-carlton

Kreuzer poised to re-sign with Carlton

Nick Bowen July 27, 2017 6:06 PM

Newsletter
RSS

Share

AFL 2017 Round 18 - Brisbane v Carlton

Carlton's Matthew Kreuzer is close to signing a contract extension with Carlton
Related

Blues mid running out of time to return

MATTHEW Kreuzer is poised to re-sign with Carlton in a deal that is expected to bind the in-form ruckman to the Blues for at least two more years.

Kreuzer is due to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, but has already satisfied a trigger clause in his existing contract to play on at Ikon Park in 2018.

The 28-year-old's management and Carlton, however, have been working on a longer-term deal over the past month. It's believed the new contract will run for two or three years, which would keep Kreuzer at the club until the end of 2019 or 2020.

It's understood those negotiations should be finalised soon, with both parties confident a new deal will be announced before the end of the season.

Kreuzer has had no interest in testing the free agency market this year and seems almost certain to finish his career a one-club player. He was linked to a move to Collingwood when he was last a free agent in 2015, but ultimately re-signed with the Blues for two years.

Kreuzer's importance to Carlton has never been more evident than this season.